Welcome home, Sister!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wonder what your kids think about being here? It sounds like they are happy and free. ❤

So what was the reason for going back?

@@Forodir Kia ora Bro, I think our Sister has answered our questions before we asked them, mate. I am very sure she had a great adventure, but the family is home now & they can kick back Kiwi-style, I'm sure.

I agree. The 'unemployment rate' is one of the shameless lies government likes to tell. It does not reflect how many people are 'without income', that would like to have income ( and work for it ).

@biankakoettlitz I had been an exchange student in Norway for a year in 1980 when I was 16 years old. I had actually wanted to go to Germany initially, as my father had come from Germany, but I got Norway instead. I fell in love with Norway ❤️ I had a much better time in Norway as an exchange student than I did when I attended a language school in Stuttgart 5 years ago. But I wonder if it had something to do with my age. When I was young I enjoyed attending the school there, and making new friends; and I was more open to new ideas and trying things 🤔 I did not cope well in Stuttgart at all 😞 Read my comment above and follow the thread. Hvor i Norge kommer du?/ Where in Norway do you come from?

@@JulieEnglert-cj1hv I did the same and moved here 20years ago🤩Iwas born and raised in Kiel , than lived in Hamburg for 10 years.Now I live north of the Arctic circle, I think what happened to you in Stuttgard is that you didn't match with the mentality of the people in South Of Germany. In Norway especially in the northern part are the people more like the people in the northern part of Germany. Just a little reminder: You left out the 'fra'/ hvor kommer du fra?

Which is the same in Germany? Usually Foreigner complain because they are not used to this.

Aston does a lot of misinformation and fear mongering on america. No is germany have a lower cost of living. Food, clothes, electronics and homes are way cheaper in america. Just want a german youtuber called Feli and her being able to purchase a home in america and talking about it would be impossible. For her or her other german friends to able to do that in germany.

I have to go along with you there!!! In New Zealand we don't eat kiwi. We love them, and help them to live in the wild. Caring for our birds wildlife is very important here. To many of us, our land is the most important thing. If you were referring to kiwi apples...I have my own large fuji apple tree (along with lemons, limes and grapes that don't take up much space. But also nectarines, plums, quinces, blackberries, kiwifruit etc). If you were referring to kiwifruit, I buy golden kiwifruit, they are one of my favourite fruits. I haven't heard of the variety of apples you mentioned. I don't know what types are the nicest in NZ because I only have bought grannies to cook. That's granny smiths, of course. It seems like other people know which kind of fruit you are writing about. ?

I have no doubt that your cops are very trustworthy, well trained and professional. I hope and expect they are like that to a reasonable degree in most countries of the world? I don't know. Does anyone here know? Aussie cops are definitely not like ours. Nor are Fijian cops. They don't sound like German cops, OR Kiwis. In New Zealand, the police reflect our culture. They are known for their friendly, community approach, building positive relations with the public. Empathy goes with the professionalism. I remember recently a hilarious recruitment advertisement which really portrayed with great humour the friendly ways and ethnic diversity of police based on extended family type relationships as well as physical fitness. Other recruitment ads emphasize respect, empathy and non-judgement. Humour, respect, empathy, diversity and unity are huge parts of our national character. I could've called the cops recently when neighbours were having a long, loud argument. But they are my neighbours, mate. I went to check everything was OK there. The Bro was embarrassed about his nephew and whanau members. But things were OK and the family members who were arguing, left. Kiwis don't do anonymous or sneaky police work. Most are kind of accepting. You could say more apathetic perhaps. We don't have super strict rules and get uptight about minor transgressions. There are pros and cons to both ways of responding. Sometimes I wish more people would respond to local hoodlums. But as I said, my neighbours are like family. I wouldn't want to be a nark in my own community. Frankly, I find the thought of narking on neighbours is close to traumatizing. Possibly just rather uncaring, nasty and a behaviour that would not suit our country of unity and caring. My best friend lived in Germany. One day he weng home and found his landlady and two officials standing in his room. That behaviour is not only very nasty, but totally illegal in my country of compassion , friendship and good will. It can't be measured on quality of life scales. It's far too beautiful and transcends scientific measurement. It helps explain why everyone likes Kiwis & Canadians. But there are pros and cons, of course! All depends on whether order is important...or acceptance freedom and the laid back attitude. Respect, Bro.

a german police officer has to go to a 2.5 to 3 years of intense training a cid officer needs a college degree not like the usa where you have a training of 16 weeks less than a barber@@barbsmart7373

@@barbsmart7373well… from what one hears, there is at least one country where you maybe cannot trust a cop. At least not if your skintone is dark….. And I am sure there are other countries where police is corrupt or untrustworthy. You couldn‘t trust police in Germany shortly before WWII, I am sure.

I think you hit it on the head, Friend. Quite a few of us don't want to be in a Hotspot. We quite like the freedom, space and privacy. Like being the only couple in a stunning... breathtaking... spot. No one else insight. And when we do see a human, a smile, and kia ora, g'day, or how are ya, mate? I will stay with the aroha, bush, river, ocean and birdsong any day till the day I die.

It all depends on who you ask, mate. And why people say what they say. Maybe you were thinking of a country that last year was the fourth safest country in the world in 2024 and the second safest in the years before that according to the Global Peace Index. Maybe it was voted the 2nd friendliest country in the world last year. Or even the 10th happiest country in the world. Or maybe it was all three. Aroha from God's Own.

Yeah. Those were some of the things I was thinking. It does need to be put into perspective. The question is though, why compare two countries that are quite different anyway?

Not that many people in prison in NZ, either.

@@GermanDubsisshit Maybe if people are not friendly to you, there could be a reason for that? And as your sentence shows, you don't know Germany at all.

Tena koutou. It is awesome to see that 6 people like this comment. Kia ora to you, white clover. I am glad you feel the same way about South Africa. I am happy that my people have been welcoming and friendly to you in this little faraway motu. I have learned a lot from a Tongan and a Fijian here. It is indescribable how kind and appreciative my Tongan neighbour was. He last tracked me down when he was in his '80's. So great was his appreciation when he was "struggling". That was his perception of me. But I could write a chapter about what he did for me. No, a book! I have had a Fijian living in my house where I have my Bedford bus, gardens etc. He has lived in my house for about 12 years now.. Like the Tongan, he is always smiling, always happy, always positive. They both came from so called "poor" villages where there was very little money. Both showed me incomprehensible generosity and care. Both treated or treat me like a Queen. Like our Maori people, the Pacific people are happy kind and caring. As you know, kotahitanga and manaakitanga are big here. Support and generosity is good for mana. I can't imagine many German people saying hi to strangers, let alone having lots from all different countries staying in their homes. Especially the "strangers" with beautiful dark complexions like my Fijian and the Nigerian, Indian Sri Lankan and Maori guests I had discovered. I think the line "Men of every creed and race" suits us well down under. I went to see my previous Indian neighbours last week because they now have a baby. I have learned that it is attitude... especially gratitude and positive thinking that brings about happiness. Also for me, that giving much seems to all come back in mountains. Also that GDP and everything else listed by Antoinette don't necessarily affect happiness at all. I think " being better off in a certain place" doesn't make a huge difference. I know that NZ has been among the 10 "happiest countries" for at least a couple of years, and that our Aussie neighbours are much the same. I checked out the GSS from stats nz. 78% of Kiwis surveyed said that the day before had been at least 7/10 for happiness. And 37% scored the day before as 9/10 in happiness. I am glad that most Kiwis feel the way I do about life. We can learn a lot from other cultures. I watch African orphans on my phone, lining up for food and dancing. These kids are great dancers and have the biggest smiles I have seen. Their smiles uplift millions of others. All smiles uplift others. I realise that many Germans defend their habits of not smiling and not being friendly. But that is to their detriment. As for reading our ways as being fake? I disagree entirely. People are really unique, and interesting. Most ( by far) are a real pleasure to meet. I think we have a very relaxed, laidback nature. And we have a genuine attitude of goodwill towards all people. We basically accept others no matter what they look like and how they sound. That perfection thing can be measured in so many ways. I am sure you have experienced that. I think scoring yesterday as 9/10 is close enough for me. Aroha to all here. Just my 2 cents worth.

@@Forodirl LOL, that patronizing tone is actually quite german.

@@iska788 If you think this is patronizing, I have to LOL. But of course it is easier to make an ad hominem instead of checking for facts and data.

@@Forodir Again, a very German reaction. Are you German, I am curious?

This is a total fabricated story or total overblown. Especially the part about the Health care.

Well that is how I experienced it 😕 Her Brötchen was actually a bit bigger. It was a bread roll with salad and cheese as the filling, as meat made her feel unwell. She couldn’t eat after 2 0‘clock in the afternoon at the very latest, as she didn’t want to have any food in her stomach when she went to bed at night. On the last day of the language school; to celebrate, the school made a meal for all the students and for the families they stayed with. It was scheduled for 6:30pm. The lady I stayed with wouldn’t attend, because eating at 6:30pm was way too late in the evening to eat food she said. I had not met anyone like her before either. I wonder if this is normal German, or if it was just her 🤔🤷‍♀️

This is definitely not normal behavior. That lady might have had serious health issues, maybe she’s had stomach cancer and her stomach was removed and she couldn’t eat certain things ? Or maybe she just didn’t want to seek medical help. As a poor pensioner, health care wouldn’t have cost her a cent, she wouldn’t even have to make any copayment for medications. However I think that eating rather frugally is not too unusual in Germany - though we have been getting fatter as a whole. Spending half her pension on rent - I believe this. Stuttgart rents are very expensive, though cities like Munich have even more outrageous rents. If you experienced resp met no other Germans besides this lady, then I truly pity you. And wonder how you got to stay with her in the first place … 🤔

I feel sorry for her, but that's not a normal German life. I' ve been to Australia twice and I loved it, but I also saw poor people especially indigenous people. Food prices are not as expensive as in Australia for the most part. Some of the older people (more women) didn't work in the fifties and sixties so their pensions are lower because of that. Most Germans do have the money for Wi Fi, showers and tee or coffee ;) By the way my grandfather wanted to emigrate to Australia but my grandmother didn't want to.

the problem of "Altersarmut" (Old-age poverty) is on the rise in germany and wont get better with not many children per capita. but there are still a lot of old folks living a good life. the problems you described sound more like a mental problem. and i can pretty much guarantee you, the reasons why your father left germany after the war were totally different reasons than what you experienced. a lot has changed in the last 70-80 years and the problems were of a very different nature in these times. last but not least, maybe you shouldn't judge an entire country based on one person you met.